Aviation securityCancer survivor fights TSA after pat down ruptures urine bag
After receiving a particularly rough pat down at an airport security checkpoint by a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screener, a Michigan man with a lingering medical condition is still upset about what he perceives as a lack of progress in properly screening individuals with special health needs; TSA officials met with the man after an aggressive pat down caused his urostomy bag to rupture, spilling its contents all over his shirt and pants; three months after the meeting, the man has seen no follow through on any of the issues that were discussed and he is beginning to feel a bit disheartened
TSA patdown like this broke cancer survivor's urostomy bag // Source: buzzbox.com
After receiving a particularly rough pat down at an airport security checkpoint by a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screener, a Michigan man with a lingering medical condition is still upset about what he perceives as a lack of progress in properly screening individuals with special health needs.
Tom Sawyer, a sixty-one year old survivor of bladder cancer, wears a urostomy bag that collects urine. Last November when Sawyer was travelling through Detroit Metropolitan Airport, he was subject to an aggressive pat down that caused his bag to rupture, spilling its contents all over his shirt and pants.
Sawyer is particularly upset because he had specifically told the security screener that he had a medical condition and needed to be examined more gently.
When the bag broke, Sawyer said there was no response from TSA agents.
“No apology, no recognition - Is that urine? - no nothing, no offer to help me,” Sawyer said. “And I had to face the fact that I had to walk through the airport with urine.”
In order to make his flight on time, Sawyer did not have time to change and had to board a plane while soaked in urine. He was so embarrassed by the episode that he broke down crying.
“I was just so embarrassed, so humiliated,” he said.
After the event became publicized, TSA officials met with Sawyer in an effort to improve its screening process when dealing with passengers who have medical conditions.
In describing the meeting, Sawyer said, “We talked about the badges that they have on their website now that maybe would alleviate some of it, more thorough training of the TSA agents in medical conditions.”
Three months after the meeting, Sawyer has seen no follow through on any of the issues that were discussed and he is beginning to feel a bit disheartened.
“I left the meeting feeling very good and I thought it was the government at its best in action, I really did. I was very pleased and now I’m wondering,” he said.
Sawyer has yet to hear back from TSA officials and hopes to resume discussions.
“I was under the assumption that this would be an ongoing dialogue,” he explains.
“I wonder, was this a dog and pony show? Was this just done to try and ameliorate what was done wrong, or are they really serious and just haven’t had time to bring the consortium back together yet?” he asked.
Sawyer remains determined to get a response from TSA and is committed to working with the agency to develop more sensitive screening procedures for those with medical conditions.
“I really hope that they bring us back together again, because I just think there’s so much more to talk about and I think we, we could help them.”
